Amir says brother's even better

Amir Khan will tonight seek to confirm his status as the brightest British sporting prospect to emerge from the Olympic Games by reaching the semi-finals and thus earn a guaranteed bronze medal in the boxing competition.

But ahead of his lightweight match with Jong Sub Baik of South Korea the teenage sensation claimed that an even better youngster could be fighting alongside him in Beijing in four years time - his brother, Haroon.

Khan, the world junior champion who shocked reigning European senior title holder Dimitar Stilianov of Bulgaria on his way to the quarter-finals here, said: "A lot of people think Haroon will be better than me.

"He will be 17 by the time the Beijing Olympics come. Maybe he will make the team as well - it's not impossible."

At 13 Haroon is four years younger than Amir yet already he has won a national schoolboy's title and a gold medal in the prestigious Four Nations tournament.

But the older sibling could be first to an Olympic medal if he can maintain the form that has electrified the crowds inside the hangar-like Peristeri Boxing Hall.

Khan was slow out of the blocks in his opening fight against local favourite Marios Kaperonisbut the manner in which he overcame obvious-nerves was a portent of the class to come. National coach Terry Edwards said: "Amir's got fast feet, fast hands and power, but we haven't seen the best of him yet. He's relishing the chance to fight again."

That chance comes against Baik in a contest that will pose a new test for Khan in that he fights as favourite for the first time.

However, should Khan need a warning that Olympic bouts don't necessarily go to form then it came late last night when Jason Estrada, the American expected to succeed London's Audley Harrison as super-heavyweight champion, was easily beaten on points 21-7 by Cuban southpaw Michel Lopez Nunez.